What the HPV vaccine protects against
Protects against the types of HPV that cause almost all cervical cancer, most anal cancer, and a large share of mouth, throat, penile and vulval cancers, plus genital warts.
Also known as: Gardasil 9, Cervarix
Why children are given it
Given in the pre-teen years because it works best before any exposure to the virus. Countries with high uptake are on course to eliminate cervical cancer. Many now use a single dose for this age group.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 12 to 13 years (school year 8) (1 dose)
HPV vaccine |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 11 to 12 years (2-dose series (start 9-14))
HPV vaccine |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) (2-dose series)
HPV vaccine |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 12 to 13 years (school program) (1 dose (most adolescents))
HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Grade 5 (around 9-10 years) (School campaign)
HPV vaccine |
| 🇮🇳 India | 14 years (girls) (1 dose (girls))
HPV vaccine |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 9 to 14 years (2-dose series (before 15th birthday))
HPV vaccine |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 1st year of secondary school (around 12-13) (1 dose)
HPV vaccine |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 11 to 12 years (school year 7-8) (1 dose (from 2026))
HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) |
| 🇫🇷 France | 11 to 13 years (2-dose series (from age 11, all genders))
HPV vaccine |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Around 10 years (2-dose series (6 months apart))
HPV vaccine |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 9 to 14 years (1 dose (all genders))
HPV vaccine (quadrivalent) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Secondary 1-2 (around 12-14 years, girls) (2-dose series (girls))
HPV vaccine |
Good to know
- HPV causes almost all cervical cancers and many anal, mouth, throat and penile cancers, so most countries now vaccinate girls and boys.
- It works best before any exposure to the virus, which is why it is offered around ages 9 to 14.
- Many countries have recently moved to a single dose, based on evidence that one dose protects as well as two in this age group.
Side effects: what is normal
- A sore, red or swollen arm where the injection was given.
- Headache, feeling sick or a mild fever.
- Some teenagers feel faint around any injection - this is a reaction to the needle, not the vaccine. Sitting down for 15 minutes afterwards helps.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It depends on the country. Across the 13 countries that include it on their routine schedule, the first dose is given from Grade 5 (around 9-10 years) to 14 years (girls). In the UK it is given at 12 to 13 years (school year 8). In the US it is given at 11 to 12 years. The table on this page shows every country.
Routine schedules give 1 dose in childhood, depending on the country and the product used. Combination vaccines can mean one injection counts towards several diseases.
It is routine in 13 of the 14 countries on this site. We do not currently list it on the childhood schedule for Russia - some countries run separate regional, seasonal or risk-group programmes, so ask your local clinic.
Most countries now give the HPV vaccine to girls and boys, because HPV causes cancers in every sex. A few countries still offer it to girls only while they expand their programme - the table above shows each country's current approach.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- NHS - HPV vaccine (side effects and more)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
More vaccine guides
MMR vaccine · Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine · 6-in-1 vaccine · Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine · Polio vaccine · Hib vaccine · Hepatitis B vaccine · Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) · Rotavirus vaccine · MenB vaccine · MenACWY and MenC vaccines · Children's flu vaccine · BCG (tuberculosis) vaccine · Hepatitis A vaccine · RSV protection for babies
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